Rani Mahal sighs for succour

Rani Mahal of Palpa is called the Taj Mahal of Nepal. This chateau ensconced
on the bank of Kali Gandaki river (7 km from district headquarters Tansen) was
built by the then Palpa governor, Khadga Shumsher Rana, in memory of his wife
Tejkumari more than a hundred years ago. Rani Mahal has long stood as an
enduring symbol of love, though unrecognised and neglected.
Lack of conservation has defaced the monument—windows are broken, valuable
fixtures have either been vandalised or stolen and walls defaced with urine
stains and graffiti. The last major renovation of Rani Mahal was undertaken in
the late 1990s.
Ever since, neither the government nor the local authorities took any
initiative to maintain the estate that possesses immense tourism potential, said
Krishna Pandey of Asal Shasan Club. The club from neighbouring Syangja district
has taken up the task of conserving Rani Mahal since last year. However, lack of
funds and cooperation from the administration and locals has kept the club from
giving continuity to the job. With the funds provided by the tourism office in
Bhairahawa, the club painted Rani Mahal last year. "Other plans for the upkeep
of Rani Mahal remain unimplemented due to budget crunch," Pandey said.
Various road projects are also underway to connect Rani Mahal with an
arterial road. However, the pace of these undertakings is suffering
obstructions, mainly due to inadequate budget and locals' apathy, according to
Poshkant Basyal of Tansen Rani Mahal Motorway Consumers' Committee.
"People tend to abandon the project once the road connects their village," he
said.
According to local Padam Shrestha, there used to be a time when tourists
flocked to Rani Mahal and marveled at its magnificence. He recalled the days
when foreign tourists flew here on chartered helicopters every week. "Those days
are over and Rani Mahal has become a picture of neglect."
Pandey said the club's effort alone would not rid Rani Mahal of its misery.
The monthly aid of Rs. 1,500 provided by the Palpa District Development
Committee will not restore the grandeur of the monument that once beckoned
visitors from atop a hill overlooking the Kali Gandaki.